IPL is slowly losing its shine and 19th edition has a decrease in TRP (Television Rating Points) by more than 18%. The television ad revenue has decreased by 31%. The overall ad revenue is still the same but the Indian Premier League (IPL) is losing its shine.
Image source- The Quint
Why is IPL Losing Its Shine?
- Overdose of T20 Matches: The IPL 2026 started just 20 days after the T20 World Cup. A total of 74 matches will be played in this season of IPL and other leagues like Big Bash and SA20. All this adds up to an overdose of T20 cricket and fans are gradually losing interest.
- The Impact Player Rule: The rule allows to replace a player during the match and the Impact player can be a bowler or a batsman. The rule has taken away the thrill of the game.
- Predictable Pitches: Pitches are prepared for high scoring matches and a 200-plus score is just normal. The score of 230-240 is chased with ease and world class bowlers are being hit mercilessly.
- 65 days of T20: A total of 74 matches will be played in 65 days in the current IPL. The two months plus of cricket are taxing for many fans and they lose interest.
- Top Team’s Struggle: Teams like Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians have not been in good form in the current IPL season. Both teams have a loyal fan following and they are just losing interest in the tournament.
- Popular Players Not Playing: Many known players are not playing due to injury. Players like M.S.Dhoni, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood have missed the majority of their matches due to injuries. These players are match winners with a big fan following.
- The Bowling Machines: Leading bowlers are not getting any help from the wicket and they are being hit at will by the batsmen. The bowlers are feeling helpless and feel the game is getting one sided.
- Constant Advertisement: Too many ad breaks have taken away the interest of the cricket fans. Many feel they are only watching advertisements instead of cricket.
- Frequent Auctions: Teams keep changing players and sometimes it’s difficult for the team to have loyal fans.
- Predictable Matches: Just a few matches in the current season have been interesting. Most of the matches have been one sided. The audience doesn’t like to watch boring encounters.
- The Gaming App Ban: The gaming app ban has also taken away millions of fans from IPL.
- High Ticket Price: Dynamic pricing in major centres has led to a slump in people going to the ground. Mid tier tickets have reached to Rs.15000/- and even a water bottle costs Rs. 100.
- Slow Match Pace: The game that took 3 and a half hours to complete is now getting dragged to 4 hours 20 minutes. Strategic timeout, slow over rate and multiple reviews have started dragging the matches.
- Failure of Star Performers: Star players like Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Jaspreet Bumrah have struggled in the current IPL and their fans have lost interest in the game.
Image source- The Indian Express
Many Ex Cricketers Show Their Concern
Ravi Shastri: Ravi Shastri is worried about the workload on the fast bowler. He said that Bumrah and Arshadeep look burned out. Bumrah has just 3 wickets in 10 matches and he has entered the Indian Premier League after a heavy continuous season. Ravi added that Bumrah is showing signs of physical and mental exhaustion.
Rahul Dravid: Rahul Dravid is against the impact player rule. He said that star performers in IPL may struggle to do well in international cricket. Even current player Rohit Sharma is against the impact player rule.
Sanjay Manjrekar: Sanjay Manjrekar is worried about the fitness standard of Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant. He wanted them to be match fit like Virat Kohli.
Image source- Lucknow Super Giants
FAQ’s
Why are the TRPs going down for IPL 2026?
The television rating points (TRP) are down because viewers have shifted to mobiles and Connected TV. The TRP is down by 18.8%.
Is the 10-team format the main reason for the IPL losing its shine?
It can be one of the main reasons for hurting the quality of the teams. Top players get divided into 10 teams, which leads to one sided contests. Many feel that 8 teams were always better for IPL and the viewers enjoyed any close contests.
How can IPL get back its charm?
The league should make pitches that are ideal for batsmen and bowlers. The impact player rule must be reviewed so we get more all rounders in the teams. Ticket prices in the stadium should be easy on pocket to bring more people to the ground. The total number of matches should come down to keep viewers interested in the IPL. There should be a gap of at least 3 weeks between the IPL and other major tournaments.
The Indian Premier League(IPL) is losing its shine due to many reasons but it can shine again when quality is preferred over quantity. Even the players should be fresh to play a long tournament like the IPL. The BCCI should take effective steps to keep the popularity of the league among viewers.
